Barbara J Cooper

Barbara J. Cooper serves as a Purchasing Agent for the National Forests in Mississippi, operating under the U.S. Forest Service within the Department of Agriculture. In this role, she manages the acquisition of goods and services essential to sustaining the ecological integrity and public accessibility of Mississippi’s forested lands. Her procurement activities support critical infrastructure maintenance, including road and trail construction, wildfire mitigation systems, and operational logistics for field personnel. She handles a diverse portfolio of contracts spanning construction, technical consulting, and forestry support services, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and agency sustainability goals. Barbara works closely with a network of qualified contractors specializing in public works and environmental services, fostering long-term vendor partnerships that prioritize reliability, safety, and environmental stewardship. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages firms with proven experience in federal forest land operations, including those certified under small business programs. Her procurement approach emphasizes transparency, competitive bidding, and performance-based outcomes to ensure accountability and mission alignment. A strong advocate for small business participation, Barbara consistently applies a 70% total small business set-aside preference across her acquisitions, aligning with FAR 19.5 guidelines. She actively prioritizes opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses, HUBZone firms, and other socioeconomically disadvantaged contractors, reflecting the agency’s commitment to equitable economic development in rural communities. Her contracting patterns demonstrate a deliberate effort to expand vendor diversity and strengthen local economic resilience through targeted socioeconomic set-asides. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), and 236210 (Industrial Building Construction), reflecting the agency’s emphasis on infrastructure resilience and forest management support. She routinely procures services such as vegetation management, erosion control, trail engineering, and technical consulting for ecological assessments, demonstrating deep expertise in the intersection of public works and natural resource conservation.